11:13am: The 49ers will bring in Campbell, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport noting a deal is in place. The sides agreed on a one-year contract. This will be a fourth team for Campbell, who will join Warner as a presumptive starter while Greenlaw recovers.
9:12am: Having an agreement to add a veteran starter as Dre Greenlaw insurance, the 49ers saw their plan come apart when the Cowboys instead lured Eric Kendricks. The defending NFC champions are now looking at another recent cap casualty.
De’Vondre Campbell is on the team’s radar. San Francisco is showing “strong interest” in the recently released Green Bay linebacker, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco tweets. The Packers cut Campbell two seasons into his five-year, $50MM deal this week.
Kendricks had been tentatively in place to work as insurance while Greenlaw rehabs the Achilles tear he suffered while trotting onto the field early in Super Bowl LVIII. The Cowboys featured a bigger need at the position compared to the 49ers, who should be expected to have Greenlaw back on the field alongside All-Pro Fred Warner at some point next season. Campbell now may be the target for this No. 3 linebacker role.
Oren Burks operated in this capacity last season, playing 433 defensive snaps following Azeez Al-Shaair‘s free agency exit. A former Campbell Packers teammate, Burks is unsigned for the 2024 season. Campbell, 30, played in front of Burks in 2021 — an All-Pro season — en route to signing a new Packers contract. As the Packers transition to a new defensive coordinator, they dropped Campbell’s contract to free up cap space. The former Cardinals and Falcons defender had no guarantees remaining on the deal.
Campbell started 40 games in Green Bay, including 11 last season. After back-to-back years with six tackles for loss and two interceptions apiece, the former Atlanta second-rounder took a step back last year (75 tackles, three for loss) in an injury-shortened season. Campbell, whose Falcons tenure overlapped with Kyle Shanahan‘s in 2016, also played through a shoulder injury in 2022.
Greenlaw underwent surgery shortly after the Super Bowl. While the timeline could allow for the veteran linebacker to be back by Week 1, he will likely begin training camp on the active/PUP list and could be a candidate for a reserve/PUP designation. The latter transaction would sideline Greenlaw for four games to start the season. The 49ers are preparing to take precautions while Greenlaw rehabs; seeing if Campbell would accept the former Al-Shaair part-time role — when Greenlaw is healthy, that is — will be something to monitor.
He is good, when he wants to be. He doesn’t always want to be.
Agreed. Still better than starting Burks though imo
No doubt there. He can be very good. Certainly has the tools. I think the 9ers are a good fit for him to keep him honest. GB has had a few guys like this come through where motivation ends up being lacking.
So you guys are saying you watched every game Campbell played last year? Analyzed his performances specifically and did the same for Burks. And you’re commenting on this site?
Yep, at least on my end. Season ticket holder. Do you disagree about Burks for some reason, or are you his agent?
Congrats on being season ticket holder. I don’t live there. Means nothing because there’re these things called TVs. I can take 4-5 hours to watch, rewind, slo mo, etc. Burks suffices as a sub LB. Rotational if you will. Btw, by your Campbell comments am i to assume you have Packer season tickets? See now how your “im a season ticket holder” comment is irrelevant?
A little salty aren’t you?!
deserved. Brags about having season tickets and basically says I must be his agent because I say something that questions his opinion. deserved.
All he really said was he should be better than Burks. Which is true. He never said anything about watching all the Packers games that was a conclusion you jumped to. For some reason you took that personally. Seems like you are just reaching for things to argue about. I don’t understand why people get off by being trolls.
He’s going from a dumpster fire to a perennial contender. I expect to see more consistent effort.
That dumpster fire that almost beat the “perennial contender” in the playoffs in their house?
Wtf you smoking today and where can we all get it?
af, its highwaymenace. Usual commentary. 2 bricks short.
One of the least physical LBs in football. Enjoy him SF.